The Presbyterian Church’s press officer has issued a
public criticism of the language of the C of I Gazette regarding one of
the church’s ministers.
This is a first in Irish church journalism.
A report by Claire Harrison in the Belfast Telegraph of Thursday, 16 June 2011 states:
The Presbyterian Church has leapt to the defence of a minister accused
of behaving like a “spoilt child” by a Church of Ireland magazine –
branding its comments out of order.
The Rev Lesley Carroll has been staunchly defended by her Church after
coming under fire in an astonishing attack in the Church of Ireland
Gazette.
The Gazette, edited by Canon Ian Ellis, was critical of Rev Carroll’s
recent defence of the contentious Consultative Group on the Past (CGP)
which had tried to find the best way to deal with victims of Northern
Ireland’s troubled past.
Rev Carroll worked with the goup, which
produced the Eames-Bradley Report, alongside its co-authors, former
Church of Ireland primate Lord Eames and former vice chair of the
Policing Board Denis Bradley.
Tensions are emerging between the two major churches after the question
of how to deal with victims was raised by the recent appointments of IRA
killers Mary McArdle and Sean McGlinchey to high-profile Sinn Fein
posts.
There was widespread anger after Ms McArdle, part of an IRA gang
who killed judge’s daughter Mary Travers in 1984, was appointed special
adviser to Culture Minister Caral Ni Chuilin.
Community relations have
also been under strain at Limavady Borough Council after Sean
McGlinchey, part of a gang which bombed Coleraine in 1974 killing six
people, was appointed mayor.
Mr Bradley and the Rev Carroll spoke to a BBC programme on Sunday and
called for the CGP report, which was largely rejected by public
consultation, to be re-visited against the backdrop of the rows.
The
Gazette said both members “came across on the programme rather as spoilt
children who had not got their way”.
In the wake of the surprising criticism, Presbyterian Church
communications secretary Stephen Lynas has written to the Belfast
Telegraph accusing the Church of Ireland Gazette of a “personal attack”.
“It is perfectly reasonable for the Gazette and Mr Ellis to debate the
rights and wrongs of the Eames-Bradley Report and the recent BBC
interview with Dr Carroll and Mr Bradley,” he wrote.
“However, to issue a
personal attack and describe them as ‘spoilt children who had not got
their way’ is out of order.
“Recent events including the appointment of Mary McArdle, the Smithwick
Tribunal and the row in Limavady Council show that the past is still
with us. We have not dealt with it and until we do our past retains the
power to keep us in its grip.”
Mr Lynas highlighted the need for victims’ issues to be addressed.
“We need, as a society, to begin to deal better with our past. Who
better than the churches and their magazines to set an example of how to
face up to the issues and help us handle ourselves among people with
whom we differ?
“Dr Carroll and Mr Bradley have devoted their time and experience in
attempting to plot a better way forward for everyone. Constructive
criticism and debate is good, but personal attacks by those in positions
of influence and responsibly do not benefit anyone.”
Background
The Church of Ireland Gazette completely dismissed the work of the
Consultative Group on the Past which was chaired by its former primate
Lord Eames.
The report, known as Eames-Bradley, was published in January
2009 to outcry after recommending that the families of all victims of
the Troubles should be awarded compensation of £12,000, including
paramilitaries.
Overall it contained 31 proposals on how to deal with
the legacy of the past, which were largely overshadowed by the
compensation row.
The report has effectively been sidelined since strong opposition was found during public consultation.